NPCC Unit Camp 2017

It was time of the year for the annual NPCC unit camp! This year’s camp was held from 6th to 8th June, and during these 3 days 2 nights, campers went through a series of activities organized by the Secondary 3 Cadet Leaders.

With our 4 camp objectives - Enthusiasm, Social Interaction, Enjoyment, Independence - campers are expected to stay positive and adapt to situations even when it is difficult. Not only that, the theme of this year’s camp is…. CARTOON CHARACTERS! This is aligned with our camp objective for our campers to be always enthusiastic and have fun while they learn many skills and forge unbreakable friendships!

This year’s edition was unique and adventurous. Campers get to interact with one another, work together and achieve great things. Some examples include the hike at Bukit Timah Hill, Building the Tallest Structure activity, and Values-In-Action (VIA) at Willing Hearts. As this year’s unit camp coincides with the ninth month of the Muslim’s Islamic calendar, the fasting month for our Muslim campers, completing all these activities was definitely not an easy feat! All these activities are not possible without our Teacher Officers’ prior planning and heart to bring our cadets out to experience more. In a nutshell, this unit camp not only allows cadets to know one another better, but also signifies to welcome our Secondary 1 cadets into our big family!

One of the most memorable activities during the camp was the hike at Bukit Timah Hill. It was a test of endurance and resilience. It was not easy especially for the Muslim campers. Even though they were fasting, they endured and persevered throughout the hike. It was really heartwarming to see everyone supporting and encouraging one another, constantly reminding one another to drink up and having water parades. Kudos to all campers! Other than completing a hike together as a unit, another takeaway would be the opportunity to appreciate nature and look at the various flora and fauna at the nature reserve. It was definitely a different experience, especially for us teenagers, spending most of our time in the digital world. After nearly an hour of trekking, our unit made it to the highest point of Singapore. The sense of accomplishment was indescribable!

On the second day of unit camp, our unit went to Willing Hearts to contribute back to the society. Initially, our cadets felt uncomfortable being in the kitchen and preparing meals (such as cutting vegetables) as they were unfamiliar tasks. However, after some help and guidance from the volunteers at Willing Hearts, our cadets adapted and felt that it was indeed a meaningful and productive morning spent. It might not be easy but they stepped out of their comfort zones, learnt and never give up! Excellent! After the session, our cadets were rewarded with a scrumptious meal cooked by the helpers. Through the hard work in the kitchen, our cadets learnt to appreciate the food that they have everyday as they understand that it does not come by easily.

Other than activities outside our alma mater, we also have a series of school activities. These full-filled activities were Hunger Games, Team Bonding Games and Survivor AMKSS NPCC Edition. These series of activities are put in place to help our campers step out of their comfort zones and be more aware of themselves and their friends.

Finally, the highlight of the camp - Campfire Night! Even though it was raining cats and dogs and it dampened our campfire, our mood and unit’s morale still burnt strong and bright under the lead of our emcees, Cheng Ze and Zhe Yu! The last night of the camp is nicely marked not only with our familiar NPCC songs & cheers, but also our exclusive AMKSS NPCC Dance Challenge! It was definitely a memorable campfire night! Also, a shout out to all seniors who attended the campfire!

This camp may be short but everyone enjoyed the camp. Most importantly, friendships were strengthened and resilience was built.

Also, congratulations to our best campers, Zhi Tong from Spongebob and Ethan from 8 Minions! Both of them displayed a mindset of excellence and helped their group instructors to manage the group. They are definitely a role model for all.

Well done all campers for participating enthusiastically in all the activities and we hope that this camp was a fruitful and enjoyable one! Last but not least, we would like to thank all Teacher Officers, Honorary Officers and Cadet Inspectors for their support and guidance throughout the camp to make it a successful one!

Unit Cadet Leaders 2017-2018

Jia Min, Zhe Yu, Brendan